After the game, Lineker said Brazil had 17 chances in the second half, Belgium had just 1.Now if you can convert no more than ONE chance out of your 17, you really have only yourself to blame.Belgium, after playing a very good first half, seemed to go to pieces in the second.Obviously Brazil went hammer and tongs at them - and the Belgium defence was completely exposed.A better team would have easily got a few in - Brazil's poor finishing was shocking.

I can't see Belgium winning this Cup, with this sort of defence.I think they lost it in the head first - they're not used to getting this far, and playing against such big names.Was really happy to see them survive multiple scares - and go through.I like their players - they play far more attractive football than the likes of Germany and Spain.

Lukaku was just outstanding yesterday. The way he creates openings and sets up his team-mates is a treat to watch.De Bruyne's goal was fantastic, but Lukaku's build-up was just as brilliant.

Having said all this, Brazil were denied a penalty.But that's what happens when you repeatedly "act"."Wolf, wolf" story.

I too am worried about the Belgian defense and France has pedigree at this stage of a major tournament. Belgium are heading into uncharted territory.Cros have a tendency to fall apart at critical moments.

i like Croatia much better after reading about their president fly economy & sat with fans incognito instead of VIP area as protocol won’t allow VIP patrons not allowed to wear jerseys or wave flags and personally met with all players in the dressing room.

Luka Modric is leading Croatia in battle after battle at the World Cup

Until July 7, there were just two murals on a hotel in Kazan, one of the World Cup venues in Russia — Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. On the 8th though, artists were seen scribbling on the walls again. Next to Messi, appeared the outline of a familiar mop of hair.

It was Croatia captain Luka Modric, the man who’s tamed this World Cup like Hercules did the Cretan Bull, finally sealing his legacy as one of the most complete midfielders in the world.

But it’s not as if we didn’t know this. Somewhere in the back of the mind, Modric’s world-class status was always a whisper, unlike the worldwide adulation he’s now receiving after dragging Croatia to the World Cup semifinals for the first time in 20 years.

Part of this is because Modric has operated in the gigantic shadow of Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

But while Ronaldo was pinging in the goals, Modric was running the show from midfield. Like the Portuguese, he’s won four Champions League titles in a row as well. He’s the vigilante you can’t catch — the sly, clever, slippery, clean and cold-blooded saviour of a nation, leading them in battle after battle at the World Cup, captain’s band on his arm, and a magic wand on his right foot. Argentina felt the full brunt of his force on their most embarrassing night in Russia, as Modric drilled a stunning drive into the back to the net to announce his intentions.

Iceland was next as Croatia made their way to the knockouts with a hundred per cent record. Then came Denmark in the round of 16. What began with two goals within five minutes went all the way to extra time. With 116 minutes gone, Modric found striker Ante Rabic with a sumptuous pass but the striker was brought down in the box for a penalty. Modric stepped up and missed.

When the match went to shootouts, he stepped up again — not a grimace on his face despite the weight of his country bearing upon him, and smashed it past the pumped up Kasper Schmeichel. “I am fascinated with his determination to shoot after he missed in extra time. It speaks volumes for Luka.

He said it himself, ‘I am going to take a penalty in the shootout’. Can you imagine if he had not scored?,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said after the game. Modric had run the show that night — creating four chances and intercepting the ball six times.

On an average, Modric has made 68.4 passes per match with an accuracy of 86 per cent. That’s better than Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne — who, on paper, has better players around him. Modric has played the most number of long balls at the tournament (6.4/game). On a per match calculation, he has made more key passes than Messi.

He successfully dribbles past players more often than De Bruyne and takes as many shots per game.

No wonder Sir Alex Ferguson enquired about Modric hours after seeing Manchester City win the 2011-12 title with a last gasp goal. In that season, Modric was passed the ball more often than any other player in the Premier League (2,363 times). He could’ve been the successor to Paul Scholes at Manchester United, but ended up as galactico in Madrid.

He’ll meet the Premier League’s force in England in the semifinals. There is only one way to stop him — hope that Dalic chooses to play Modric in a holding role like he did against Russia.

Modric looked trapped in a withdrawn position before coming to life after a tactical change. It took penalties to separate the two sides and Modric scored again. He has already beaten England at Euro 2008 and will want to afflict more damage.

World Cup 1998 saw Croatia ride on another Madrid star Davor Suker’s shoulders to reach the semis. That night, France went through and eventually won the cup. England will also be hoping that stopping Croatia could spiritually bode well. But stopping Croatia means going past Luka Modric.

By Belgium's high standards of finishing in previous games, they were very poor in the semis.Having said that, it would've broken my heart to see them get to the final the hard way, and lose to England (who has made it, playing relatively easier opponents).